Joe Giudice Slum Lord

It seems that the illustrious Joe Giudice can add “slum lord” to his résumé!

A recent investigation by a local ABC news station has discovered that Joe failed to pay the utility bill and properly maintain an apartment building he owns and manages. Joe’s negligence and selfishness left five families–many with children–homeless this week over fire safety concerns, and because the utility company was forced to shut off service due to the severely delinquent account.

“The gas and electricity were shut down,” a resident explained. “Tenants can’t care for their kids and have no heat.”

Joe has an outstanding balance of $52,000 (or about two of Teresa Giudice‘s outfits), and the building was deemed hazardous after evidence of meter tampering was uncovered. Signs labeling the premises “unsafe for human occupancy” were put up after the Fire Marshal determined that a generator installed to get around paying the services, caused a deadly carbon monoxide leak!

The apartment building in question was featured in season two of Real Housewives of New Jersey, when Joe was seen showing Teresa around the premises before it was leased. Teresa famously said she would never live there. Well, apparently, no one should – since the remiss utility bill has also left all the tenants without hot water or heat!

Joe told newscasters, there was nothing he could do. “I don’t own the building,” he said in a voicemail. “I basically manage the building for a company in New York.” Unfortunately, their research uncovered that, while Joe doesn’t own the building directly, a company he owns does! Whoops. In fact, Joe basically admitted ownership when he confessed to installing the generator to help his tenants.

After the news station’s investigation, the power was restored and safety issues rectified, allowing the tenants to move back in. Sadly, it was also discovered that Joe’s failure to pay the alarm company left the building without working fire alarms! Joe was cited for these violations and something tells me he has a lawsuit coming his way very soon! A video of the news report is below!

Teresa and Joe have not commented on the episode, but I’m sure they’ll have something to say soon. Teresa will likely defend Joe. And while I’m not a huge Teresa fan, the more I learn about Joe, the more I am compelled to feel sorry for her. In my opinion, if she wants to remain in the public’s good graces and see her celebrity rise, she may need to ditch that husband of her’s! Especially because she’s working her butt off to pay his bills, and he’s likely going to end up in prison resulting from last year’s identity fraud indictment!

In other news, it looks like Jacqueline Laurita will be back for season five, whether she likes it or not. Our source told Reality Tea directly that Jacqueline signed a six-year contract when she initially joined the show, and despite her no-show at the reunion and her Twitter rampage, Bravo has no intention of firing her…yet!

“Jacqueline doesn’t want to be on the show anymore but, she has a six-year contract,” our source reveals. “The only way to get out of it without being sued is to get fired and they will not fire her.” With all the legal problems the Laurita’s are already facing with their bankruptcy fraud lawsuit and BLK. Water lawsuit, she likely can’t afford another one!

However, Bravo is looking for additional housewives to join the cast, as previously revealed. Reports speculated that they were interested in casting Teresa’s other sister-in-law Sheila Giudice, Joe’s brother’s wife. “When Teresa heard Bravo was interested in them, she quickly wanted to mend the feud between her and Sheila. The last thing she needed was another sister in law on the show bashing her,” our source dishes. Indeed, Teresa has posted a lot of photos on her website featuring her in-laws.

Luckily for Teresa, it seems Bravo has had a change of heart! The insider alleges, “Pete Giudice hasn’t paid taxes in years among other shady business dealings and Bravo didn’t want to take on the risk.” Pete was the one whose identity Joe impersonated, which led to his arrest and indictment late last year. Does failure to uphold the law run in this family or what?!

Finally, our source reveals something we’ve known all along – Melissa Gorga has become a complete famewhore! “Melissa sure let fame get to her head and fast,” the source shares. “Melissa will only do appearances that she is getting paid for.”

“She has been asked to attend several charity events and she doesn’t. But, if she gets paid she will be there! She is very focused on being bigger then Teresa.”

A fan recently asked Melissa about the non-stop appearances she has done (and advertising on Twitter) and Melissa claims she’s just all about the fans! “I love meeting everyone! I’ll do it as long as they keep booking me!,” she tweeted. I, personally, believe the Gorgas are not as financially stable as they pretend to be, and possibly need the money.

Good lord, RHONJ is like the Jerry Springer of Housewives!

TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE SITUATION AND JOE’S ACTIONS? WILL TERESA EVER LEAVE JOE? DO YOU THINK JACQUELINE WILL RETURN NEXT SEASON? IS MELISSA A FAMEWHORE OR JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD OPPORTUNITY?